Bahamas Immigration Department awarded for excellent service

<<< Zelma Moss won the Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 40 years of service. She is pictured (right) receiving the award from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of foreign Affairs, the Hon Brent Symonette. At left is Director of Immigration Jack Thompson.

NASSAU, Bahamas – Zelma Moss with more 40 years of service received the Bahamas Immigration Department Lifetime Achievement Award during recognition ceremonies at Government House.

The Minister’s Award went to Donnalee King-Burrows for more 30 years, and the Director’s Award went to C Loyd Pinder who has put in more than 40 years of service.

The ceremonies, October 1, were was part of the Bahamas Immigration Department’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

Governor-General, His Excellency Arthur D Hanna, underscored the importance of honouring employees who are dedicated to their profession.

“Recipients, you must feel elated that your hard work had not gone unnoticed,” he said. “The fact that you are being awarded is testimony to your continuous good service in assisting the Department to meet its goals and objectives.”

The Governor-General advised them to be ready to deal with migrating practices which will be continuous as people seek a better way of life.

“Furthermore, there is also the cultural aspect which the movement of people will generate which brings into sharp perspective the importance of the role your Department plays in this country,” he said. “True diligence in this time of constant change is key.”

He also commended the Department on doing “a very good job” of regularly informing the public of the work being done, as it seeks to carry out its mandate.

“Your leaders and staff have an onerous assignment as you are given the responsibility of overseeing and controlling the movement of non-residents, persons who are not citizens or have permanent resident status in this archipelagic nation,” he said. “Your job of oversight and control is not an easy task.”

The Bahamas Immigration Department was established by an Act of Parliament on January 1, 1939.

Its purpose is “to regulate the movement of people across the borders of The Bahamas so as to ensure the security, facilitate economic advancement and promote the harmonious social development of The Bahamas through collaborative efforts of responsible government and non-government agencies both national and internationally”.

Amendments were made to the Act for the establishment of the Detention Centre, which serves as a transitory holding facility until repatriation arrangements are secured for detainees.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon Brent Symonette, said that the amount of years served by the honourees speaks to the continuity of staff with the Department and institutional knowledge that exists.

When institutional knowledge is combined with the vision of the directorate, this should translate into a winning formula for success, said Mr Symonette, who also has ministerial responsibility for the Immigration Department.

“I am pleased to express sincere thanks and appreciation to each of you for the sacrifices you have made, and continue to make toward the pursuit of the development of The Bahamas,” Mr Symonette said.

The Bahamas Immigration Department honoured its dedicated employees during a Staff Awards and Recognition Ceremony at Government House, October 1. Pictured seated from left with the clerical and administrative staff are Roderick Bowe, Senior Deputy Director of Immigration; the Hon Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Governor General, His Excellency Arthur Hanna; Dr Patricia Rodgers, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Jack Thompson, Director of Immigration; and Cora-Bain Colebrooke, Deputy Permanent Secretary.